New bakery to open Friday – The Local Ne.ws

by Ella Niederhelman

IPSWICH Sandpiper Bakery and its staff are moving to town from their current location in Gloucester.

Sandpiper Bakery will be situated at 29 North Main Street atop Town Hill, in the Odd Fellows building next to the Ipswich Public Library.

New space, new expansion, same Sandpiper flavor, baker Molly Friedman said.

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We are excited about it being a little off the beaten path, because we do want it to be a residential bakery and cafe, Friedmans co-partner Susanne Clermont added.

Clermont focuses on the sweets, while Friedman brings a more savory side. Molly is going to expand our breakfast, lunch, and early-dinner takeout menu, Clermont said.

Ipswich resident Clermont has been a baker for over 25 years. She previously owned Canto 6 Bakery in Jamaica Plain before moving to Sandpiper Bakery in Gloucester. She and her four-and-a-half-year-old daughter are up pretty early, Clermont said.

Friedman currently lives in Essex. Her background includes marketing for a food hall in New Orleans. It was there that she realized she wanted to be in the kitchen instead. She finds the quiet mornings very special particularly in the summer.

My biggest challenge has been sort of making most of the decisions in the past, wishing I had someone to collaborate with to bring more inspiration, said Clermont. I am very excited for Molly to partner.

Friedman said, We are both just passionate about our craft creating stuff we want to eat with really talented hands.

In their Gloucester location, Friedman and Clermont have persevered through the pandemic, only closing for one day last March.

It was just her and I for three months, said Clermont. If we can survive this, we are good to go.

I think we learned a lot of lessons and we came out in a good spot, Friedman said. COVID causes hardships for everyone, but we learn to pivot and work with it.

Sandpiper Bakery is already well known for their croissants, puff pastries, pies, and scones. The newly added savory side of the menu will include in-house made focaccia, a variety of sandwiches, soups, and salads.

The bakery itself is farm-to-table, so it is mostly influenced by seasonal produce and working with all the farms in the surrounding area, Clermont said. We will be changing the menu often, depending on the season and what we are tasting.

Sandpiper Bakery works with local farms, including Iron Ox Farm in Topsfield, Alprilla Farm in Essex, Cedar Rock in West Gloucester, and Utopia Farmstand in Manchester. They work with Bonny Breads in Beverly as well.

We are hoping to work with Three Sisters and Marshview Farm, which are in Ipswich, said Friedman. We are lucky to be around all of these really talented farmers.

Clermont and Friedman both find bliss in creating food for their community and the meaningful connections they form with their customers as a result.

It is the best when you see somebody bite into something and smile, said Friedman. The immediate satisfaction you get with seeing somebody enjoy something you made, and them having a better day from that. We are excited to be a part of the community and give to them.

Clermont added, We really look forward to people coming, getting a box full of croissants and hot chocolate, and bringing that home to their family. There are a lot of things that we are going to do that I think people will be happy with and crave. We are excited to be a place where residents can walk to, and we can be part of either their morning or afternoon commute and routine.

You get to know those people, said Clermont. You get to meet children and watch them grow up. You get to be part of their birthdays, their holidays, and it is such a blessing.

Sandpiper Bakery will be opening its doors for a soft launch Friday, Feb. 26. It will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but hours could vary depending on the season.

The bakery plans to provide indoor seating after COVID.

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New bakery to open Friday - The Local Ne.ws